Gem vise



Oct. 7, 1952 J. J. LEA

GEM VISE Filed Dec. 10, 1951 i wllllll;

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John J. Lea

INVEN TOR.

Patented Oct. 7, 1952 UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE GEM VISE John J. Lea, Grenada, Calif. Application December 10, 1951, Serial No. 260,916

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in tools for holding semi-precious stones or gems while .grinding, sanding, polishing or otherwise finishing the same prior to setting thereof.

An important object of the invention is to provide a hand vise embodying a novel adjustable ences being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and showing an ovate stone held in the jaws;

Claims. (Cl; 51-229) Figure 3 is a front elevational view; t

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the jaws adjusted for holding a flat stone; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the jaw faces or inserts.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates a U-shaped resilient strap metal handle having its end portions enlarged to form elongated jaws 6 and 1 having trough-like opposing surfaces 8 and 9. In the opposin surfaces of the jaws at their outer ends are concaved opposing notches In and II.

The outer surfaces of the jaws, at their outer ends are bevelled, as shown at l2.

A substantially semi-cylindrical jaw face or insert I3 is positioned with its rounded back in each trough-like jaw and with the fiat surfaces M of the inserts in the plane of the side edges I5 of the jaws. Each insert is provided with an opening IE to receive a bolt [1 with its head I8 countersunk in the fiat surface M, the bolt projecting through a longitudinal slot IS in a companion jaw and is secured in slidably adjusted position therein by'a nut 20. The inserts I3 are slightly shorter than the jaws whereby the inserts may be moved forwardly or rearwardly in the jaws to position the front ends of the inserts either flush with the front ends of the jaws as shown in Figure 4, to retract the inserts to form opposing shoulders 2| and 22 at the front endsof the jaws.

A bolt 23 passes through the handles at a point behind the jaws and a wing nut 24 is threaded on the bolt to close the jaws.

The invention thus forms a hand vise adapted for holding flat stones 25 between the opposing cover and uncover said faces at flat surfaces of the inserts or jaw faces l3 in a position for sanding or polishing an outwardly projecting edge of the stone, and by retracting the inserts l3 into a position rearwardly of the front ends of the jaws, an ovate stone 26 may be gripped by the shoulders 2| and 2 2, as shown ln Figure 2. I

The curved opposing surfaces 8 and 9 of the jaws will effectively grip the sides of ovate stones 26 even should the contour of the stone differ substantially from that of the jaws and smaller ovate stones (not shown) may be eflectively held in the opposing notches l0 and I I of the jaws.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it

is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as hereln described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what is claimed as new is; I

1. A hand vise comprising a resilient U-shaped metal handle, a pair of jaws at the ends of the handle having semi-ovate opposing faces adapted to grip correspondingly shaped work and jaw inserts adjustable forwardly and rearwardly in said opposing faces of the jaws to cover and uncover the semi-ovate opposing faces at the extremities of the jaws. l

2. A hand vise comprising a resilient U-shaped metal handle, a pair of laws at the ends of the handle having irregularly shaped opposing faces adapted to grip correspondingly shaped work, and jaw inserts adjustable forwardly and rearwardly in said opposing faces of the jaws to the extremities of the jaws.'

3. The combination of claim 2 whereinv said inserts are formed with rear surfacescomplementary in shape to the opposin jaw faces and are formed with flat opposing surfaces.

4. A hand vise comprisinga resilient U-shaped metal handle, longitudinally elongated jaws at the outer ends of the handle and having troughlike opposing faces adapted to grip correspond-v ingly shaped work, inserts slidable forwardly and rearwardly in the opposing faces of the jaws, and

N references cited. l 

